PWHL Toronto general manager Gina Kingsbury says her team is looking for upgrades everywhere through the PWHL Draft., and in particular, more scoring despite the fact her team finished first in the PWHL standings and topped all teams in goals for.
PWHL Toronto dominated the PWHL during the inaugural regular season. As well, no team in the PWHL scored more goals than Toronto this season. But general manager Gina Kingsbury isn't settling for status quo. Instead, her PWHL Draft wish list includes upgrades everywhere, and more scoring.
"I think the wish list would be to upgrade everything in some capacity," said Kingsbury. "Obviously we would be looking at bringing in a little bit more offense to our game especially as mentioned if we do have a period of time where Natalie Spooner is of absence."
Spooner was the top threat in Toronto's potent offense scoring 20 goals, equal to 28.9% of Toronto's offense. It's certainly a point Kingsbury will look to address.
But she also put the league on notice with the idea that as good as Toronto was, they intend to get better next season.
"Creating a little bit more depth in our offensive game I think is important, both from the forward perspective but also the D side," said Kingsbury. "We will be looking at bringing some D in that can generate some offense from the back end and certainly some offense fom the font end, just creating a little more depth."
Toronto's defensive corps saw lopsided ice time for top pairing Jocelyne Larocque and Renata Fast, followed by Kali Flanagan who was their third highest defender in terms of ice time.
PWHL Toronto was eventually reverse swept by the PWHL's eventual champions, PWHL Minnesota in the playoffs. It's a fate they will look to avoid in the second season of the PWHL. And the draft will play a role in that process.
Toronto picks 6th overall, 12th overall, and 18th overall in the first three rounds of the seven round 2024 PWHL Draft which takes place Monday, June 10.